West Bengal Reveals Plans To Build A Residential Football Camp

The government of Indian state West Bengal "is planning to start a residential camp for budding footballers of Bengal," according to Archiman Bhaduri of TNN. State Sports Minister Madan Mitra said that the State Sports Council will "soon start off the procedure by picking up 500 footballers from each district of the state." Mitra said, "We plan to bring down the number from 500 to 100 after three days of trial and then to 50 after another three days of trial. These 50 boys will be groomed for six months by keeping them in residential camps." Former India int'l Gautam Sarkar has been named the chief coach for the project. The former midfielder will be assisted by a "core committee of 12 former footballers," including Mihir Bose and Compton Dutta (TNN, 9/17).